In the dim glow of a corner café, she sat across from me, fingers wrapped around a steaming cup of coffee. She was a photographer, an artist behind the lens, capturing the world in its raw beauty. Today, her gaze was intense, her voice steady as she spoke.
“Court,” she began, leaning forward, “we need to get in front of the camera. Especially us, the women.”
This wasn’t about vanity. It was about identity, presence, and history.
“For too long, women have been silent observers, unseen chroniclers. We’ve been behind the scenes, capturing moments but rarely stepping into them. It’s time to change that.”
She paused, sipping her coffee, her eyes fixed on mine.
“It’s about claiming our space, our stories. Every photograph is history, a testament to our existence. When we step in front of the camera, we’re saying, ‘I was here. I mattered.’ That’s powerful.”
She told me about her mother, who always took pictures but avoided being in them. After she passed, the few photos that existed were rare glimpses into her life.
“It’s heartbreaking,” she said. “We deserve to be remembered, not just for what we’ve done but for who we are. Our faces, expressions, moments of joy and sorrow—they all tell a story. And those stories need to be told.”
In her work, she encouraged women to step into the frame, capturing their essence, strength, and vulnerability, building a more complete history.
“When future generations look back, they should see us—not as footnotes but as protagonists. We need to show them that we lived, loved, struggled, and triumphed.”
Her passion was infectious. Photography was more than art; it was immortalizing the human experience, ensuring every story, every person, was recognized.
“Court, getting in front of the camera isn’t about ego. It’s about visibility. It’s about saying, ‘I am here, and I am worthy of being seen.’”
She leaned back, a satisfied smile on her face. Her message lingered in my mind.
I understood. The camera wasn’t just a tool; it was a mirror, reflecting the world back at itself. It was time the women who held it finally stepped into the frame.
Her mission became mine too. To ensure everyone, especially the women who were silent witnesses, were seen, acknowledged, and remembered. Every story deserves to be told, and every life deserves to be seen.
Stag & Bird Curated Photo Experiences • by Courtney Specht
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